Paddle with internal ribs

ABSTRACT

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure describe a pickleball paddle. A hollow interior structure is formed between front and rear shells of the paddle and reinforced with internal ribs.

FIELD OF THE ENDEAVOR

The present disclosure deals with racquet sports.

BACKGROUND

Pickleball is a racquet sport played with paddles and a perforatedplastic ball on a court that is similar to a tennis court. Players hitthe ball over a net placed on the ground, similar to tennis, with thegoal of hitting the ball so the opposing player cannot return the shot.

Typically paddles used in pickleball may be made of metal, wood orcomposite materials. The construction and the weight characteristics ofthe paddle can have an effect on how a ball rebounds off of the paddlewhen a player hits a shot. When a player hits a ball near an edge of thepaddle, the result of the shot is different than when the ball is hitnear the center of the paddle. Often, when the ball is hit near the edgeof the paddle, power on the shot is lost, while more power is generatedwhen the ball is hit near the center of the paddle. Different playersmay prefer either more power or more control. Therefore, it is desirableto provide a paddle that has easily variable characteristics yet alsohas sufficient rigidity and strength.

SUMMARY

Certain embodiments include a paddle that includes interior ribs. Thepaddle may include a handle and a blade with opposing faces. The paddlemay be formed from a composite material. The blade is formed from frontand rear shells that are attached to form a hollow interior structure.The hollow interior structure is reinforced with a rib system thatincludes internal ribs between the front and rear shells of the paddle.

The rib structure allows the blade to have a hollow interior to reducethe weight of the paddle, yet the rib structure can be designed tomaintain and configure the blade's rigidity. Optionally, a fillermaterial may be inserted into voids formed between the ribs to controlthe balance point of the paddle.

In certain embodiments, the rib system includes a first pattern ofparallel ribs and a second pattern of parallel ribs. Each pattern ofparallel ribs is perpendicular to a corresponding axis that extendsacross the blade. The axis of the first pattern of ribs is non-parallelto the axis of the second pattern of ribs. In some embodiments, at leastone of the first pattern of parallel ribs and the second pattern ofparallel ribs includes ribs that are non-uniformly spaced along thecorresponding axis. The spacing of each pattern of parallel ribs may beselectively adjusted to control the balance point and the playingcharacteristics of the paddle. Optionally, the ribs in the firstplurality of parallel ribs may be perpendicular to the ribs of thesecond plurality of parallel ribs to form a grid pattern. In otherembodiments, the ribs in the first plurality of parallel ribs may beoblique to the ribs of the second plurality of parallel ribs to form adiamond pattern.

In other embodiments, the rib system may be a single pattern of parallelribs. The single pattern of parallel ribs may be perpendicular to acorresponding axis that extends across the blade. The ribs of the singlepattern of parallel ribs may be evenly spaced along the correspondingaxis, or may be non-uniformly spaced along the corresponding axis. Thespacing of the ribs may be selectively chosen to adjust the playingcharacteristics of the paddle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a paddle with internalribs.

FIG. 2 is an interior perspective view of the paddle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an interior perspective view of the paddle of FIG. 1 with axesfor patterns of ribs.

FIG. 4 is an interior perspective view of an embodiment of a paddle withinternal ribs.

FIG. 5 is a cut-away view of the paddle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an interior perspective view of an embodiment of a paddle withinternal ribs.

FIG. 7 is an interior perspective view of an embodiment of a paddle withinternal ribs.

FIG. 8 is an interior perspective view of an embodiment of a paddle withinternal ribs.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of thedisclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of thedisclosure is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and such further applicationsof the principles of the disclosure as illustrated therein beingcontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe disclosure relates.

The present disclosure pertains generally to the field of paddles usedfor racquet sports such as pickleball and particularly to a paddleincluding interior ribs. Aspects of the present disclosure include apaddle that is formed using a plastic or composite molded material. Morespecifically, the paddle has opposing faces yet defines a hollowinterior volume. The interior volume is selectively divided andreinforced with internal ribs which extend between front and rear shellsof the paddle.

The rebound characteristics of a ball hit off a paddle depend on thelocation at which the ball hits the paddle. Traditional pickleballpaddles of a uniform density have a center of balance that is found nearthe middle of the blade portion of the paddle. This portion of thepaddle is often referred to as the sweet spot. A ball hit near the sweetspot of the paddle has more rebound power than a ball that is hit nearthe edges of the paddle with the same effort. Therefore, it is oftendesirable to have a paddle that has a large sweet spot located at theportion of the paddle at which the player is most likely to strike theball.

The International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) endorses rules ofpickleball for tournament play and international competitions. The rulesof the IFP include equipment requirements that specify allowable paddlecharacteristics. A pickleball paddle must be constructed from arelatively rigid, non-compressible material. The hitting surface of thepaddle cannot include holes, indentations, textured material, or anyfeature that applies additional spin to the ball. Rubber, syntheticrubber, sandpaper, moving parts that increase momentum, springs orspring-like material, and flexible membranes or compressive materialthat creates a trampoline effect are not allowed on the surface of thepaddle.

The rigidity and compressibility of a paddle is determined using adeflection test. A common deflection test used to determine the rigidityof a paddle applies a force of 3 kg to the center of the paddle. Thedistance the paddle deflects due to the 3 kg force is recorded toprovide a measurement of the paddle's rigidity. A paddle that has adeflection of 0.005 inches or less in the 3 kg test is considered tomeet the IFP rigidity specifications.

In addition to regulating the rigidity of a paddle, the IFP alsospecifies size requirements. The combined length and width of a paddlecannot exceed 24 inches. These measurements include any additionallength or width added by an edge guard or a butt cap added to the end ofthe handle. There are no restrictions on the weight of the paddle or thethickness of the paddle.

It may be desirable to adjust the weight distribution and the rigidityof a paddle to adjust the playing characteristics of the paddle to fitdifferent styles of play, while also staying within the paddlerequirements and rules set forth by the IFP. Adjustments made to theweight distribution and balance point of a paddle may alter the size andlocation of the sweet spot and the rebound characteristics of portionsof the paddle. These adjustments may be used, for example, to increasethe size and optimize the location of the sweet spot, but also toimprove or adjust the characteristics of those areas of the paddle foundon the periphery or elsewhere on the paddle blade.

Ribs within a hollow interior of a paddle may be used to reduce theweight of the paddle. Also, the ribs can be selectively arranged tocontrol the rigidity of the paddle at different locations. In certainoptions, a filler material such as foam, rubber, or silicone, can beplaced around and/or between the ribs to assist in holding the ribmaterial during the molding process and also to control characteristicsof the finished paddles such as noise or vibration dampening aspects.The placement of the ribs and the choice of filler material between theribs may be used to selectively adjust the playing characteristics ofdifferent portions of the paddle while keeping the playingcharacteristics of the paddle within the requirements set forth by theIFP.

FIG. 1 illustrates a representative example of a paddle 20 including ahandle 30 and a blade 40. Blade 40 is formed from a front shell 42 and arear shell 44 and includes a center area 43 and an edge area 45. Frontshell 42 defines a planar front face 46 and rear shell defines a planarrear face 47 (shown in FIG. 5). The faces 46, 47 are the parts of blade40 that strike the ball during play. The perimeters of front shell 42and rear shell 44 form an edge 48. It should be understood that theterms “front” and “rear” to describe the shells are relative terms thatdescribe the paddle as shown in the figures are and merely used for easeof description. In use, the orientation of the shells of the paddle isnot important and either side of the paddle may be used to strike aplaying object such as a table tennis ball or pickleball.

Edge 48 is formed by the edges of front shell 42 and rear shell 44. Edge48 may have a height and include a seam where front shell 42 connects torear shell 44. The seam may be located at the top of edge 48 near frontshell 42, near the bottom of edge 48 near rear shell 44, or in themiddle of edge 48. Alternatively, edge 48 may include two seams where aspacer attaches to front shell 42 on one side and to rear shell 44 onthe other side. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there is no edgeguard attached to edge 48. However, in other embodiments, an edge guardmay be used to keep edge 48 from being damaged. The edge guard may bemade of rubber, plastic, or any other suitable material for protectingedge 48.

FIG. 2 shows an interior view of paddle 20, namely the inside surface ofone shell. A rib system 50 that provides support and rigidity to paddle20 is located on the interior of paddle 20 between front shell 42 andrear shell 44. Rib system 50 includes ribs 52 that extend in heightbetween front shell 42 and rear shell 44 (see FIG. 5).

As shown in FIG. 3, in some embodiments, rib system 50 includes a firstpattern of parallel ribs and a second pattern of parallel ribs. Eachpattern of parallel ribs is perpendicular to a corresponding axis thatextends across the blade area. For example, the first pattern ofparallel ribs 57 is perpendicular to an axis L, and the second patternof parallel ribs 58 is perpendicular to an axis W. Axes L and W arenon-parallel so that the first pattern of parallel ribs 57 isnon-parallel with the second pattern of parallel ribs 58. Each patternof parallel ribs may be uniformly spaced along its corresponding axis(see FIG. 3), or each pattern of parallel ribs may be non-uniformlyspaced along its corresponding axis (see FIGS. 6-7). Ribs 52 may benon-uniformly spaced within each pattern so that ribs 52 are closertogether near the edge area of axes L and W and spaced further apartnear the center area of axes L and W, or ribs 52 may be spaced so thatribs 52 are spaced farther apart near the edge area of axes L and W andspaced closer together near the center area of axes L and W. In otherembodiments, one pattern of parallel ribs may be uniformly spaced alongits corresponding axis while the other pattern may be non-uniformlyspaced along its corresponding axis.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, rib system 50 includes vertical ribsand horizontal ribs that are arranged to form a grid pattern. However,in other embodiments, the positioning, number, and the patternarrangement of the ribs 52 may be altered as desired. For example, ribs52 may only extend vertically, or ribs 52 may be circular or arcuate,and/or arranged concentrically, or ribs 52 may be angled to form across-hatched pattern. As another example, shown in FIG. 4, axis W maybe oblique to axis L, so that ribs 52 form a diamond pattern.

Ribs 52 are made from a material that helps provide paddle 20 withsufficient strength and rigidity to withstand repeated impact with aplaying object like a pickleball while still staying within IFPguidelines. In one example, ribs 52 may be made from the same materialas shells 42, 44 and molded into a shell as part of an injection moldingprocess. As an alternate example, ribs 52 may be formed from a pre-pregmaterial such as carbon fibers impregnated with a resin.

Each of the ribs extends between the shells of paddle 20, nominallyillustrated as edges 62 and 64, although there may not be a definedseparable edge. As a representative example, one of the edges 62 of ribs52 joins front shell 42 and the other edge 64 of rib 52 joins rear shell44. Ribs 52 have to be strong enough to not break when paddle 20contacts a pickleball or another object during gameplay. In someembodiments, ribs 52 may be attached to shells 42, 44 through a moldingprocess. Ribs 52 may also be fused or bonded between shells duringassembly. In other embodiments, ribs 52 are attached to shells 42, 44using an adhesive or any other suitable method.

Voids 54 are defined in the spaces between ribs 52. In some embodiments,voids 54 are left empty; however, in other embodiments, voids 54 arefilled with a filler material 56, such as foam, rubber, or silicone.Filler material 56 may be used to provide additional support to paddle20 and may also reduce sound when a playing object, such as apickleball, is struck by paddle 20. As an example, filler material 56may support ribs 52 while paddle 20 is assembled and may help preventribs 52 from bending or breaking when paddle 20 is in use.

Other embodiments of paddle 20 may include different layouts for ribsystem 50. For example, more or fewer ribs may be added. The spacingbetween each of the ribs on a paddle may be the same or the spacingbetween ribs may be non-uniform. Some embodiments may have ribs that arecurved or circular. The density or spacing of ribs 52 at differentportions of paddle 20 may affect how a playing object such as a ballrebounds from the paddle. For example, the sweet spot of the paddle isthe portion of the paddle that transfers the greatest amount of momentumfrom the paddle to a ball or other playing object. This results in theball having greater velocity when hit off the sweet spot compared toother parts of the paddle. The sweet spot of the paddle is often foundat the balance point of the paddle.

The balance point of paddle 20 may be altered by changing the positionof ribs 52. Therefore, the layout of ribs 52 may be designed to give thepaddle 20 a balance point at a desired position. For example, placingmore ribs near the end of paddle 20 moves the balance point toward theend of paddle 20, and placing more ribs 52 near handle 30 of paddle 20moves the balance point closer to handle 30. Moving the balance point ofpaddle 20 moves the sweet spot of the paddle, so the sweet spot may bemoved to an optimal location for where a player is most likely to hitthe ball off of the paddle.

In addition to controlling the location and the size of the sweet spotof the paddle, the placement of ribs 52 may be used to selectivelyadjust the rebound characteristics of the different portions of paddle20. Fewer ribs may be desired in places that are farther from the sweetspot of paddle 20 (see FIG. 6). Fewer ribs results in less rigidity andproduces more rebound energy transferred to the ball from the paddle 20.This generates greater power to make up for power that is lost due todeflection of the paddle and inefficient transfer of momentum whenmissing the sweet spot.

For some paddles 20, more ribs 52 may be desired near the sweet spot ofpaddle 20. There is already greater rebound energy transferred to a ballwhen hit at the sweet spot compared to other portions of the paddle.Adding more ribs 20 at the sweet spot results in increased rigiditycausing the paddle to transfer less rebound energy to the ball andgenerate less power on a shot. However, a player will have increasedcontrol on the direction of a shot when the ball is hit on a portion ofthe paddle 20 that is denser. It may be desirable to trade some of thisgreater rebound energy in exchange for the greater control provided byincreased rigidity.

In other embodiments, it may be desired to have more ribs 52 near theedge of the paddle and fewer ribs 52 near the sweet spot of paddle 20(see FIG. 7). This distribution of ribs 52 increases rigidity near theedge of the paddle 20 so that less rebound energy is transferred to theball when a ball hits the edge of paddle 20. Fewer ribs 52 near thesweet spot of the paddle 20 decreases the rigidity of paddle 20 at thesweet spot so that paddle 20 transfers more rebound energy when a ballcontacts the sweet spot. More rebound energy generates more power on ashot.

Additionally, varying the density of filler material 56 used in opening54 may control the location of the balance point of the paddle 20 andthe size of the sweet spot of paddle 20. Using denser filler material 56in certain voids 54 of paddle 20 moves the balance point of paddle 20toward those voids 54 that have the denser filler material 56. Thefiller material 56 used in voids 54 may also be used to selectivelyadjust the rebound characteristics of the different portions of paddle20.

In some embodiments, filler material 56 may be added to all the voids54, but in other embodiments, filler material 56 may only be insertedinto some of the voids 54. Also, the type of material in each of thevoids 54 within the same paddle may be varied. For example, the densityof the filler material 56 used in each opening 54 may be differentdepending on the location of the void 54.

FIG. 8 shows an internal view of an embodiment of a paddle 120 with arib system 150 that has a different layout than rib system 50 (see FIG.2). All of the ribs 152 in rib system 150 extend parallel across rearshell 44 in the same direction, unlike rib system 50 where some of theribs 52 cross to form a grid. Also, paddle 120 includes more ribs thanpaddle 20.

Paddles 20, 120 may be formed using a variety of methods. For example,paddle 20 may be made from separate pieces. Front shell 42 and rearshell 44 may be two separate sheets of material, such as plastic orcarbon fiber, that are attached to rib system 50, or rib system 50 maybe molded with one of the shells 42, 44 and the other shell 42, 44 islater attached. Likewise, handle 30 may be integrally formed with shells42, 44, or may be formed as a separate piece that is later attached toblade 40.

As an example, rib system 50, front shell 42, and rear shell 44 may eachbe molded as separate pieces. Edges 62, 64 of ribs 52 may be heated,then front shell 42 is positioned on edges 62 and rear shell 44 ispositioned on edges 64 under pressure. Ribs 52 are allowed to cool,attaching front shell 42 and rear shell 44 to rib system 50.Alternatively, instead of heating rib system 50, an adhesive may be usedto attach rib system 50 to front shell 42 and rear shell 44.

In another example, rib system 50 and rear shell 44 are integrallymolded as one piece, while front shell 42 is molded as a separate piece.The top edges 62 of ribs 52 are heated and front shell 42 is positionedon the heated edges 62 under pressure. Edges 62 of ribs 52 cool toattach front shell 42 to rib system 50 and rear shell 44. In otherembodiments, rib system 50 may be integrally molded with front shell 42.Also, rib system 50 may be attached to front shell 42 using an adhesiverather than heat bonding.

In some embodiments, rib system 50 may contact only one of front shell42 or rear shell 44 instead of contacting both front shell 42 and rearshell 44. For example, rib system 50 may be positioned so edges 62 areattached to front shell 42, but edges 64 do not touch rear shell 44.Instead, edges 64 float within the interior volume. This could causepaddle 20 to have opposing playing faces with different playingcharacteristics. Similar embodiments may have a rib system 50 that isattached to rear shell 44 but does not contact front shell 42. Stillother embodiments may have some ribs 52 attached to front shell 42 butnot contacting rear shell 44, and ribs attached to rear shell 44 that donot contact front shell 42.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that allchanges and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventionare desired to be protected.

1. A paddle comprising: a handle; a blade including a length and a widthextending from said handle, said blade including a front shell and arear shell, wherein said front shell includes a planar front face andsaid rear shell includes a planar rear face opposite said front face,and wherein said blade defines a hollow interior volume between saidfront shell and said rear shell; a rib system including a first patternof parallel ribs and a second pattern of parallel ribs, wherein each ofsaid ribs include a first edge and a second edge, wherein said firstedges of said ribs join said front shell and said second edges of saidribs join said rear shell; wherein each pattern of parallel ribs isperpendicular to a corresponding axis across the blade area, wherein theaxis of the first pattern of ribs is non-parallel to the axis of thesecond pattern of ribs; wherein at least one of said first pattern ofribs and said second pattern of ribs includes a plurality of ribsnon-uniformly spaced along the corresponding axis; wherein said ribsystem is located within said hollow interior portion and said ribsystem defines a plurality of voids between said ribs.
 2. The paddle ofclaim 1, wherein said first pattern of ribs and said second pattern ofribs each includes a plurality of non-uniformly spaced parallel ribsalong a corresponding axis.
 3. The paddle of claim 1, wherein the axisof the first pattern of ribs is along the length of said blade, andwherein the axis of the second pattern of ribs is along the width ofsaid blade.
 4. The paddle of claim 1, wherein the ribs of said firstplurality of parallel ribs are perpendicular to the ribs of said secondplurality of parallel ribs to form a grid pattern.
 5. The paddle ofclaim 1, wherein the ribs of said first plurality of parallel ribs areoblique to the ribs of said second plurality of parallel ribs so thatsaid voids between said ribs are diamond shaped.
 6. The paddle of claim1, wherein said blade defines an area including an edge area and acenter area along the axis of the non-uniformly spaced parallel ribs,and wherein the ribs in the pattern are distributed along the axis suchthat the spacing between the ribs near the center of the blade area isgreater than the spacing between ribs near the edge area of the blade.7. The paddle of claim 1, wherein said blade is made from a rigid,non-compressible material.
 8. The paddle of claim 1, wherein thedeflection of the blade is 0.005 inches or less when said blade issubjected to a force of 3 kg.
 9. The paddle of claim 1, wherein thepaddle has a length and a width, and wherein the combined length andwidth of the paddle does not exceed 24 inches.
 10. The paddle of claim1, comprising a filler material inserted into at least one of said voidsbetween said ribs.
 11. The paddle of claim 10, wherein said fillermaterial is inserted into each of said voids between said ribs.
 12. Thepaddle of claim 10, wherein said filler material is foam.
 13. The paddleof claim 10, wherein said filler material is rubber.
 14. The paddle ofclaim 1, comprising: a first filler material inserted into at least oneof said voids between said ribs; a second filler material inserted intoat least one of a different one of said voids between said ribs; and,wherein the density of said first filler material is different than saiddensity of said second filler material.
 15. The paddle of claim 1,wherein said ribs are formed from carbon fibers impregnated with aresin.
 16. A paddle comprising: a handle; a blade extending from saidhandle including an edge area and a center area, said blade including afront shell and a rear shell, wherein said front shell includes a planarfront face and said rear shell includes a planar rear face opposite saidfront face, and wherein said blade defines a hollow interior volumebetween said front shell and said rear shell; a rib system including aplurality of ribs positioned in said hollow interior volume between saidfront shell and said rear shell; wherein said ribs are parallel andperpendicular to an axis across the blade area, and wherein said ribsare non-uniformly spaced along the axis.
 17. The paddle of claim 16,wherein the spacing between ribs along the axis near the center area ofthe blade is greater than the spacing between ribs near the edge area ofthe blade.
 18. The paddle of claim 16, wherein the spacing between ribsalong the axis near the edge area of the blade is greater than thespacing between ribs near the center area of the blade.
 19. The paddleof claim 16, wherein said rib system defines a plurality of voidsbetween said ribs and wherein a filler material is inserted into atleast one of said voids between said ribs.
 20. The paddle of claim 19,comprising: a first filler material inserted into at least one of saidvoids between said ribs; a second filler material inserted into at leastone of a different one of said voids between said ribs; and, wherein thedensity of said first filler material is different than said density ofsaid second filler material.